Progress & Perspective

2/5/2023

This week in ISM, I was able to research the different connections between microbiomes and diseases, including depression, ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. I found it incredibly interesting the cellular pathways and the research that has been conducted on this topic. I completed my Final Product Assessment on ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)or Lou Gehrig's disease which is a progressive disorder resulting in muscular degeneration. With all of our advancements, the life expectancy is only two to five years. Nonetheless, my dive into microbiome research, including the bacteria that are involved in its progression and onset, can shed light on improving treatments.

Next week, I plan to collaborate these findings with my mentor, Dr. Mutha, to focus on interventions that could be implemented in a clinical setting, with a focus on the medical community fine-tuning its efforts on prevention and personalized medicine as well as raising public awareness to give patients more answers about their diagnosis. I would like to continue researching the links to various gastrointestinal diseases and finalize one by the end of the next week. I will polish my Product Proposal and deep dive into another disease with my assessment. Finally, I look forward to learning from my peers' presentations.